Webster davis



(No Model.)

W. DAVIS.

APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND TRANSPORTING MELONS.

No. 287,106. Patented Oct. 28, 1883.

5 Jags.

D a A A k f I 1 A I 11111- I I I l A 6/ 1 III l v Y a Y I I I I I I l- N. PETERS. PholuLim -uphen Washingion, D.C,

UNTTED STATES PATENT QEETQE.

' XVEBSTER DAVIS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

APPARATUS FOR PACKING AND TRANSPORTING MELONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,106, dated October 23, 18E3,

Application filed August 7, 18E3. (N model.)

10 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WEnsrER DAVIS, of Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Packing and Transporting Melons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention is designed to be used in the transportation of melons.

Heretofore melons have been transported in railway-cars and water-craft simply by piling the melons, in bulk, one upon another. .As immense quantities are shipped during the season, a very considerable loss arises to those handling this product by the crushing of the melons in the pile underneath the weight of the mass. I propose to avoid this loss, and at the same time facilitate the movement of the melons from or into the cars or other vehicles.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of one side of a frame with the pouches. Fig. 2 is a crosssection of a pair of frame-sides. Figs. 8, 4, and 5 show modifications.

In carrying out my invention I use frames A A, which consist of posts a and cross-harsh. hVhere these frames are intended for railwaycars, the posts should be about the height of the inside of the car and the bars as long as the width, so that the frames may be set up transversely of the car and fit snugly in place. Along the upper edge of each bar I), I place small hooks or nails 0, adapted to receive and hold a loop, (I, of the pouch or pocket D. This pouch or pocket may be made of any material suitable to hold an ordinary watermelon. I prefer to make it of ordinary coarse cotton cloth. The posts and bars which compose the sides of the frames are set at a distance from each other sufficient to admit the row of pouches and allow the melon to be placed therein longitudinally of the car. It will be understood that the pouches are placed in rows, one row between each pair of bars, and that the bars are placed in series, one above another, with sufficient vertical space between to allow the melons to hang in the pouches without striking each other; and it will also be understood that, preferably, the melons will not be permitted to come in contact with the bars at their ends. In this way, a frame having been set up, the melons'may be placed in the pouches in successive rows, beginning at the bottom and working upward toward the top, and then another frame may be set in place next to the first. convenient manner; but I prefer to do this by means of bracing-bars e, which may be placed at the top and bottom, between the opposite posts of each side of the frame, these being secured to the posts in any convenient way, preferably so that they can be removed, and will hold the sides of the frames attheir proper distances apart. In this way the entire car may be filled from top to bottom, and the melons be held securely without liability to crush each other by the weight of superincum- I brace the frame in any bent melons, and .without liability to dash against each other in the rocking or jolting of the car during transportation.

In order that the frames maybe taken apart for return transportation, it is desirable that the parts should be fitted together removably or by hinges, in such manner that they may be folded. I have shown the posts a mortised, with the lower part of the mortise inclined inward, as shown at f, and the tenons of the side bars, I), cut underneath with a corresponding incline, as shown at 9, so that the bars may be inserted in the posts, and be held in place by the weight of the melons suspended therefrom.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown a modification of the construction hereinbefore described, in which the pockets are formed in each transverse row out of a single strip of cloth, netting, or other suitable material. I11 this modification I use two side bars, I), and two end pieces connected to each other in any convenient manner; but in such manner that they may be taken apart or folded, as hereinbefore explained. Across the bars I) b, Iplace, at suitable intervals,wires0r cords h, and over these I place a strip of cloth or other suitable material, the ends of which are attached securely to the end pieces. The wires or cords h are at sufficient distances apart to admit the melons between them, and the cloth is made long enough to allow it to sag between each pair of wires, so as to form pockets or pouches, each one of which is adapted to receive a melon.

Instead of separating the bars only sufficient to receive a single row of melons placed crosswise, I may make the distance betwecn them nearly double this width, as shown in Fig. 5. In this modification I place lengthwise of the bars crooked wire, 7;, and connect at the apexes transverse wires Z. Over these I place two strips of cloth, in themanner above describedthat is to say, loosely, so as to sag between the transverse wires-thus forming between the bars pockets or pouches for two rows of melons, the ends of which are placed so as to interlock, as shown in dotted lines in the figure last specified. The wires may be connected in any convenient way to give the form shown, the construction-being for the purpose of econoniizing space by allowing the smaller ends of the melons of each row to lap by those of an- It will be understood that the modifications of the bars and pouches described are to take the place of the side bars, I) b, and pouches D, first described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and are to be supported upon the posts ain the same manner.

I claim as my invention 1. A frame for supporting melons during transportation, consisting of posts and bars and a series of pouches suspended therefrom, the parts of the frame being detachable, all substantially as described.

2. Supporting pockets or pouches for melons, suspended upon bars, and arranged with the pockets of one row alternately interlocking with those of the next adjoining row.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. IVEBSTER DAVIS.

\Vitnesses L. NV. SEELY, J. B. THOMPSON. 

